How much would YOU charge and what lens?

[cowasaki]

I have just done a couple of photo shoots for relative of their babies and having done that the parent's friends (about 4 or 5 of them so far!) are jumping up and down saying that they want the same doing. Now I'm not a professional but they have seen my work and want the same so its not like I am offering something I can't do just doing the same again.

Now what I was thinking of was just charging them £50 for the pictures (about 40-50) on a disc with 4 of them printed 10"x8" (£4.80@Tesco) they can then get other pictures done as and when they like.

Does that sound reasonable? What would a professional charge for a similar thing? I'm just thinking that if I can get a few more jobs like this then they can pay for some studio lights and a decent portrait lens between them! It's not like its a Wedding or something, if it all goes wrong I can always do it again or not charge them. (I have already refused to do a wedding this week! - I wouldn't want the responsibility, I haven't got the spare kit, i've no experience and I'm not good enough!)

Lastly what am I looking at for a decent lens for portraits on my D200. I have 3 lenses already (see sig) but I was after something maybe in the 35-85 range that was as good as the 50mmf1.8 or 105mm but with a zoom! OR am I even thinking about the right range?

ADDED: Oh and any advice regarding studio lights would be welcome too having never used a studio before!

 

[wack61]

A photographer holds the rights to any picture taken, by giving them a CD with all the pictures on you're depriving yourself of any further sales

The Nikkor 85mm F/1.4 is an excellent portrait lens which would be ideal for babies as you can be far enough away so you don't spook them, also the f/1.4 aperture means you'll be able to shoot in very low light.

 

[Craikeybaby]

If you are supplying prints I also wouldn't use Tesco, the prints are what they are going to show their friends, get some high quality prints, somewhere like Togsprint or onevision imaging.

I would alos be reluctent to give my files away, maybe you could do something where the shots are hosted by a printer and they can order them in whatever size they want...

 

[cowasaki]

I would alos be reluctent to give my files away, maybe you could do something where the shots are hosted by a printer and they can order them in whatever size they want...

This option you are talking about. Does the tog get a cut, is that how it works? Where can I find more information about it?

 

[Craikeybaby]

I've not used it, but photobox do it, I think a few other places do too, one was mentioned on here this week...

 

[MikeeB]

Cripes Tesco are expensive for 10x8 I'd recommend finding a local printer you can trust to give you high quality prints. Failing that I'd fully recommend TogsPrint

 

[cowasaki]

Cripes Tesco are expensive for 10x8 I'd recommend finding a local printer you can trust to give you high quality prints. Failing that I'd fully recommend TogsPrint

£1.20 each for 10x8 or 12x8 !

 

[kalibre]

Don't want to hijack, but I'm in a similiar situation and would be interested in peoples view on this. Got requests for portraits coming out of my ears and taking into account the PP time I'd like to get something back, even if its to fund new toys once in a while.

Sz 4 the hj cowasaki.

 

[cowasaki]

Don't want to hijack, but I'm in a similiar situation and would be interested in peoples view on this. Got requests for portraits coming out of my ears and taking into account the PP time I'd like to get something back, even if its to fund new toys once in a while.

Sz 4 the hj cowasaki.

No worries, its got to be done. Coming up with a price list is not easy. So many new toys to buy........ Nikon 85mm (1.4 or 1.8)..... Studio lights...... Nice long lens......... Nikon battery pack for flash........ Battery grip.......

 

[kalibre]

hhmmm, battery grip, hearing that one........

 

[cowasaki]

hhmmm, battery grip, hearing that one........

Yes, the battery on the D200 lasts for hundreds of shots so I don't need the extra capacity but the grip moves the trigger button to a better location for certain shots.

 

[kalibre]

oh yeah wouldn't need the grip for extra charge, just to make the D80 a bit beefier.... lol

oh ok, and the new grip position.

 

[tdodd]

A photographer holds the rights to any picture taken, by giving them a CD with all the pictures on you're depriving yourself of any further sales.

Realistically, how many future sales do you think there would be? Also, what does it matter if they run off a few extra prints. The photographer has taken the photos, prepared the CD and has been paid for his/her time. Why do photographers think they have the God given right to charge in perpetuity for an hour or two of work? You're commissioned to do the work. You do the work. You hand over the work you've done to the person who paid you to do it.

I used to work in IT as a programmer. I got paid for the hours I worked. If a program I wrote got used daily for the next five years I never saw another penny for my efforts. Why should a photographer keep getting paid for the same old piece of work they've already been paid to do. Nobody needs the overhead of paying a photographer to organise some printing and stick a 10,000% markup on the price. It is non-sensical. Charge a fair price to do the shoot and then hand over the work with printing rights assigned - not rights to sell or otherwise distribute. Tog still retains copyright but grants print licence to customer. Why does it have to be more complicated than that? Obviously I'm missing something.

By the way, I have just completed three weddings as a second shooter, and I am looking to begin making money from photography rather than pursuing it purely as a hobby. Maybe I'll get into portraiture and perhaps pet photography as well. So my question above is not simply to stir the pot. I really am curious to know why/how photographers feel they can get away with charging a massive markup for prints, rather than just charging a decent fee to shoot in the first place. It just doesn't seem to be a very realistic charging model in modern times, when anyone can easily arrange a print online, given a file. The idea of the tog supplying prints on demand, for a massive markup, just seems very outdated conceptually to me.